The by-elections in the two municipalities come as a result of the death of councillors. The Electoral Operation Manager in the province, Itumeleng Liba, confirms it is all systems go. He further confirms all Covid-19 regulations will be followed at all voting stations. Liba says voting stations in both Ward 20 in Clarens and Ward 11 in Bloemfontein will be open from 7 am until 9 pm.

Voters are reminded to bring their IDs with them and advised to bring their own pens, even though those provided by the Commission will be sanitised.

The December 9 by-elections in these two wards will come less than a month after the November 11 by-elections where 95 municipal ward by-elections took place in different parts of the country with four municipal ward by-elections in the Free State, six in the North West and 20 in the Northern Cape.

The hotly contested November 11 by-elections that took place in 55 municipalities across the country, affecting over 600 000 registered voters, saw the ANC emerging victorious.

OFM News